| Paraj or Paras is a Janya raga of the 15th Melakartha raga Mayamalavagaula, which corresponds to Bhairav Thaat of Hindustani music. Its jati is Sadava-Sampoorna raga. In Arohana, Ri is omitted. Swaras taken are Suddha Ri,
Antara Ga, Suddha Ma, Suddha Dha and Kakali Ni. Paraj raga invokes bhakti rasa.
Carnatic ragas Mayamalavagaula and Nadanamakriya resemble Paraj. In Mayamalavagaula, Ri is used in the Arohana. Nadanamakriya, however, is a Nisadantiya raga. Nishadanya raga is a raga where the sancharas will be from
Mantrasthayi Nishada to the Madhasthayi Nishada.
Arohana: Sa, Ga3, Ma1, Pa, Dha1, Ni3, Sa* (upper)
Avarohana: Sa* (upper), Ni3, Dha1, Pa, Ma1, Ga3, Ri1, Sa.
The Paraj raga of Carnatic music is closely related to the Hindustani Paraj except for the use of Prati Madhayama in the Hindustani music. Paraj admits elaborate alapana. It is mentioned in works like Raga Tarangini and Anupasangitavilasa.
Compositions like Javali, Padams, Kritis and Tillanas have been composed in Paraj. Muthuswamy Dikshitar has composed one of the nine planets kriti "Sri Sukrabhagavanatham" in this raga. "Chellineku" is a Javali composed by Patnam Subramania Iyer. A Tillana has also been composed by Iyer. |